Scott missing Lakers’ next 2 games for mom’s funeral

LOS ANGELES (AP) Coach Byron Scott will miss the first two games of the Los Angeles Lakers’ road trip to remain in Southern California for the funeral of his mother, Dorothy. She died March 15 at age 72.

Scott’s plans are to rejoin the club in Toronto on Thursday, the day before the Lakers play the Raptors. Assistant coach Paul Pressey will call the shots Tuesday night at Oklahoma City and Wednesday night at Minnesota.

The Lakers are the seventh team Pressey has served in this capacity, starting with the Golden State Warriors in 1992-93.

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Scott played in high school in nearby Inglewood, not far from the Forum, where he used to play for the Lakers. He spoke wistfully about his mom before Sunday night’s game against Philadelphia, recalling the moment he informed her back in July that he was going to be coaching the team he won three NBA championships with after 13 seasons with three other franchises.

”She was pretty happy about that,” Scott said. ”She had been telling me for years that it would happen. She was a big basketball fan, so she was really excited about that. I’ll always remember her strength and courage.”